Bucks use 4 hurlers to shut down Sox, 3-2
The Butler Iron Bucks threw a quartet of pitchers Tuesday night and each one did their part in frustrating the Butler BlueSox.
In the teams’ second and final meeting of the regular season, the Bucks limited their rivals to one earned run on three hits in a 3-2 victory at Pullman Park.
“The most important thing about tonight was that every one of our players got in the game,” said Bucks manager Len Piccini. “It was great to play the BlueSox and beat ‘em on the 4th and we did it as a group.”
Starting pitcher Pat Synan, followed by relievers Sam Basso, Noah Dzadroga and Sam Ranallo combined to strike out 10 and walk four in the victory.
The Sox (10-7) scored both of their runs in the bottom of the second. Trent Bielak’s double plated Turner Grau and, following a throwing error, Chase Vrabel’s sacrifice bunt scored Bielak. The tallies came against Synan and the lead held up until the top of the seventh when Alex Haevner, who had allowed just one run through the first six innings, ran into trouble.
The frame began with Matt Ranallo getting hit by a pitch, followed by a double from Lenny Piccini. Haevner then tallied his 12th strikeout of the game, but Ranallo scored on a fielder’s choice that resulted in no out recorded. Tyler Mack singled in the go-ahead run before Haevner was relieved by Brayden Hagerter.
Hagerter worked 2.2 scoreless innings.
“Both of our guys on the mound were great,” said Sox manager Dan Helgert. “One earned run ... I couldn’t have asked for more from them.”
Synan was relieved by Basso with one out in the fifth frame after striking out five and walking one.
“Pat could have gone two more innings and he let me know it in the dugout,” said Len Piccini, “but he knows baseball is a team sport.”
The best chances for the BlueSox to add to their run total came in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. The former opportunity was defused by Basso when he struck out Grau to strand runners at first and second.
Dzadroga also stranded two runners with a strikeout of Ben Aftanas in the seventh. Sam Ranallo worked a scoreless ninth for the save.
“This was one of our worst offensive games of the season,” said Helgert. “We didn’t swing the bats well, but their pitchers had something to do with that.”
Lenny Piccini was the only player in the game to have multiple hits, a single and double.
The Bucks, who had dropped a 7-4 decision to the BlueSox last Thursday, improved to 11-9 with the victory.
The Sox host Creekside at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Iron Bucks travel to Altoona on Saturday.
Iron Bucks 001 000 200 — 3 6 3
BlueSox 020 000 000 — 2 3 3
W: Sam Basso 2.1 IP (2K, 1BB). L: Alex Haevner 6.1 IP (12K, 1BB). S: Sam Ranallo 1 IP (1K, 1BB).
Iron Bucks: Lenny Piccini 1B 2B, Tyler Mack 1B RBI
BlueSox: Trent Bielak 2B R RBI, Chase Vrabel 1B RBI
